Trolling plate



B. L. KATZUNG ET AL TROLLING PLATE Flled Jan 31, 1950 INVENTORJ Z. fiafza Oct. 6, 1953 Patented Oct. 6, 1953 TROLLING PLATE Barney L. Katzung and Manvill A. Reim, Albert Lea, Minn.

Application January 31, 1950, Serial No. 141,390

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a trolling plate and it is primarily an object of the invention to provide a plate of this kind for mounting on the housing of an outboard motor rearwardly of the propeller. It is also an object of the invention to provide a'plate of this kind mounted in a manner to allow the plate to be adjusted into a position whereby the resistance of the water against the plate will retard the speed of the boat. The purpose of a trolling plate is to allow faster motor speed particularly in the case of an old motor or a motor that is not in tip top condition where there is liable to be stalling of the motor if it is turned down to the slow speed necessary for trolling. Another object of the invention is to provide a plate adjustable into a position to retard the speed of the boat to overcome the above stated conditions and wherein the plate may be put in a second position to permit free running of the boat.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of our improved trolling plate whereby certain advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that our invention may be better understood, we will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary View in side elevation and of a diagrammatic character illustrating a trolling plate constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the blade being in iree'running position;

--Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view in top plan of the device unapplied, the blade being indicated by broken lines in retarding position;

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the device as illustrated in Figure 4. I

In the accompanying drawings, I denotes the rudder and propeller support of a conventional outboard motor M and with which the trolling plate unit T is operatively engaged.

The unit comprises an elongate plate 2 the forward end portion of which rests from above upon the support I of the motor M and is held thereto by the bolts 3 or the like. The forward portion of the plate 2 at opposite sides of the plate is provided with the openings 3a to allow such securement. The forward portion of the plate 2 is provided with a longitudinal relatively wide slot 4 open at its outer end and which to allow for clearance of the exhaust pipe.

The plate 2 is of a length, when applied, to extend a pronounced distance rearwardly from the motor M or in a direction aft from the propeller 5. Underlying the rear portion of the plate 2 is a depending bracket B which is pivotally held to the plate 2 for turning movement about a vertical axis by the pintle member 6.

The bracket B, as shown in Figure 2, comprises an elongate flat member I, perpendicular to the plate 2 and having at its upper end a right angularly directed arm 8 having close contact with the underside of the plate 2. The outer end of the arm 8 is continued by the downwardly directed leg 9 which is angled inwardly toward the mem her I and terminates in spaced relation with the lower end of the member I. The leg 9 and lower end of the member 1 are connected together by an interposed flat and relatively short bar 10 which is parallel with the arm 8. In the present embodiment of the invention the member 1, arm 8, leg 9 and bar Ill constitute an integral frame structure which may be formed by casting or as otherwise preferred.

The pintle 6, hereinbefore referred to, is freely disposed through the plate 2 and through the arm 8 and bar I 0. The upper or top extremity of the pintle 6 carries an enlargement or head I l which contacts the upper surface of the plate 2 and said pintle 6 is of a length to extend a material distance beyond or below the bar Ill. The extended lower end portion of the pintle 6 has threaded thereon a winged nut l2 or the like and above the nut l2, the pintle 6 has thereon a Washer 14. Interposed between the water M and the bar I0 is anexpansible member l5, herein disclosed as a .coil spring of desired tension encircling the extended portion of the pintle 6. This member or spring [5 operates to normally maintain the arm 8 against the underside of the plate 2, while permitting turning movement of the bracket around the pintle 6.

The member I is positioned against and length wise of an elongate flat blade I6 on the longitudinal center thereof to which it is secured in any suitable manner as by welding, riveting or the like. The blade I6 is herein disclosed as rectangular in form and of a width substantially the same as the width of the plate 2. The upper end of the blade 16 is also flush with the top of the arm 8. The blade l6, as herein comprised, is of a length greater than the length of the running position. In the present embodiment of the invention, this is accomplished by aispring operated latch pin I! carried by the upper portion of the blade l6 which engages from'below in either of the openings 18 or IS in the plate 2 and equidistantly spaced from the pintle 6 These openings are also spaced about 90 with the pintle 6 as the center.

When the latch pin [1 is engaged in the opening l 3 the blade I6 is held-in the free running position and when-the latch pin I1 is engaged in the opening is, the'blade' lids-securedin speed retarding position.-

As illustrated in Figure'2; the latch pin is slidably disposed through suitable openings in the vertically spaced ears 2E which are carried by the blade It at the upperpart thereof. The latch pin H" is constantly urged upwardly toward the plate {by the expansible coil spring 21 which surrounds the latch pin 11 between the lower ear 20 and" a head 22 carried by the latch pm I! adjacent/to and below the upper ear 20; The head fl al'soiunctions as-a'stopfor contact with the underside of the" upper car 29 to-limit the extent cfupward movement of the latch pin aiterit has been received in either of the openings it! or [9.

The latch pin- 51 extends beyond or below the lowerear zlland suchextended portion carried by a laterally disposed-finger 23 to provide means to-iacilltate retraction of the latch pin 11' when it' is desired" to free the same from the plate 2 to allow theblade w th be adjusted from one of its-positions to the other.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obviousthat a trolling plate constructed in accordance with our invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason-of'the convenience and'i'acility with which it may be: assembled and operated.

we claim:

1. In combination withan outboard motor liaving'a propeller; a trolling device, comprising a plate for-'securement-to the housing'of saidoutboard'motor, me'ans forsecuringthe plate to such liousingto extend substantially horizontally rearward'ly therefrom immediately abovethe motor propeller; an elongate bracket positioned beneaththeplate with one end against the'underside ofthe" plate, an elongate pivot member atta'olied at one end to the plate and extending downwardly through andsupporting the bracket for turning movement on an axis extending lengthwise thereof, an elongate flat blade disposed below' the plateand' secured along a centralzlongltudinal' line to and extending length"- wise'of the bracket to turn with the bracket as a unit on said axis, a latch pin secured to said bracket and blade forming unit at the top thereof for movement relative to the underside of the plate; resilient means urging. movement of the pin' toward the plate, and means for releasably 2-oftlie pintl'e'between the nut and the lower end coupling the pin with the plate at either 01' two locations to secure the unit in a position in which the blade is disposed in a plane perpendicular to the line of thrust of the propeller or in a position in which the blade is in a plane extending parallel to the line of thrust of the propeller.

2. A trolling device as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidipivot member: issin the-form of a long pintl'eextending at 'its lowe'r end below the lower end of said bracket, the bracket having movement lengthwise of and on the pintle, an adjustment nut threaded on said lower end of the pintle, and a spring encircling the lower end of' the bracket and urging the bracket upwardly on the pintle.

3. In combination with an outboard motor havingapropeller, a trolling device, comprising a plate for securement to the housing of said outboard motor, means for securing the same to extend substantially horizontally reanwardly from thesaitt housing immediately ZbOVBTthEEmOL- t'or propeller, an elongate open bracketframefiise posed substantially vertically belowthet plate and comprising an elongate flat member'formingtone side of the frame, anrarmextending at right an.- glesfrom the top end-oi. therfiat: member and positioned against the underside-'- of: the plate, a leg extending downwardly from theazmand angled inwardly toward: said fiat member and a short bar between and. connectingtogethen'the lower end of the fiatmember' and the: 1eg;.the plate, the arm-and thetbar havinglaligned plvot openings, a pivot pintle extending through; said aligned openings and suspended atlits: top:- end from the plate,- the lower end ofthe-pintle extending a substantial distance below said bar, an adj ustment' nut on said pintlelowerend, a spring' surrounding said pintlelower endbetween the nut and the bar and urging the frame upward, anelongate fiat blade having said fiat member secured to and lengthwise of a face thereof whereby the blade length isperpendicular to the underface of the plate,- the frame and :blade forming an integral unit rotatable about the pintle, a pair of vertically spaced ears carried by said unit and having aligned guide openings, a" latch pin extending through'said'guide openings, spring means encircling the pin between said ears and bearing at one endon the lower ear and connected at its other end to the pin and urging the pin upward; and'means carried'by the plate for receiving the topend ofsaid pin to secure the blade and frame unit; relative to the plate in a position in which the blade is in: a plane perpendicular to the line of thrust of the propeller orin a position in which the" blade is in; a plane extending parallel to the line of thrust of the propeller. BARNEY L.- KA'IZUNG': A, REIM.

References Cited in the file-of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date" 1,576,237 Dawson s.-. ...Mar.- 9,v 1926 1,661,369 Irgens .....l .l. Mar, 6, 1,928 2,232,911 Gurr New Feb. 25, 1941 2,288,504 Weber June 30, 1942 2,426,805 Whiting l a Sept. 2,. 1947 

